Church of England Website

Anne McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how often guidance provided by the Church of England on its website on prevention of theft from churches has been accessed.

Stuart Bell: The main source of advice for parishes is the Ecclesiastical Insurance Office, whose comprehensive guidance on the problem of theft of metal from churches has been endorsed by the Church of England, English Heritage and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. 36,000 copies have been printed, 620 more downloaded from their website, and the relevant advice sections of the site have been visited over 1,100 times.
	In addition, there have been 526 hits on the Archbishops' Council's 'churchcare' website since the theft pages were added on 20 January this year, and the Council has e-mailed information on the guidance to dioceses for onward circulation to parishes via their own networks.

Trafficked Women: Regional Refuge Centres

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if the Government will bring forward proposals to establish regional centres to provide refuge, rehabilitation and support for women trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

Barbara Follett: The Government have funded the Poppy Project—which takes referrals from all regions in the country, since 2003. It provides refuge and comprehensive support for women trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation. The project received additional resources during our recent national campaign, Operation Pentameter 2, to identify trafficked women and apprehend traffickers, which it used to develop partnerships with 17 third sector organisations to enable them to better support trafficked women locally.

Single Equality Bill

Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality when the Government plan to publish the Single Equality Bill.

Barbara Follett: The Government will introduce an Equality Bill during this Parliament. If it is included in the draft legislative programme for the next session of Parliament, we will publish it then.

Domestic Violence

John Robertson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent steps the Government have taken to support victims of domestic violence.

Barbara Follett: I am proud to say that this Government have introduced more measures to support victims of domestic violence than any other before. These include:
	Establishing 98 specialist domestic violence courts;
	Allocating £3 million per year over the three years from 2008-07 for independent domestic violence advisers;
	Multi-agency risk assessment conferences will be established across England and Wales by 2011.

Corston Report

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what progress the Government have made on implementing the recommendations of the Corston report: a review of women with particular vulnerabilities in the criminal justice system.

Barbara Follett: The Government welcomed Baroness Corston's report, and accepted the majority of the report's recommendations. When we published our response, we committed to achieving a number of actions within six months. My hon. Friend the member for Liverpool Garston will make a statement on our progress this summer.

Female Entrepreneurship

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality when she next expects to meet representatives of small businesses to discuss measures to encourage female entrepreneurs.

Barbara Follett: The Minister for Business and Competitiveness, who leads on women's enterprise issues, regularly meets with representatives of small businesses. In addition, on May 12 my right hon. Friend the Minister for Women and Equality will host an event to encourage women to start their own businesses, which I will also attend. Leading women entrepreneurs and the Federation of Small Businesses have been invited.

Departmental Freedom of Information

David Davies: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many freedom of information requests made to the Government Equalities Office (GEO) were  (a) answered (i) within 20 days, (ii) within 40 days, (iii) within 60 days, (iv) after 60 days,  (b) not answered and  (c) answered citing an exemption in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 as a reason not to provide the requested information since the GEO was established.

Barbara Follett: Since the establishment of the Government Equalities Office (GEO), the breakdown of freedom of information requests made are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 Answered within 20 days 2 
			 Answered within 40 days 2 
			 Answered within 60 days — 
			 Not answered 1 
			 Answered citing an exemption in the  Freedom of Information Act 2000 1 
		
	
	The GEO has also received a request to review a decision made to not publish information sought under section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act. This was responded to within six weeks.
	In anticipation of future requests, the GEO is increasing its capacity to deal effectively with Freedom of Information requests.

Post-legislative Scrutiny

Philip Dunne: To ask the Leader of the House what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of post-legislative scrutiny undertaken by the House and its committees.

Helen Goodman: The Government published their plans for strengthening the process of post-legislative scrutiny of Acts in a White Paper in March. This reflects the Government's agreement with other commentators that post enactment consideration of how Acts have worked in practice has been something of a gap in the scrutiny of Government activity. It responds in particular to the report of the Law Commission on this subject in 2006 (following an inquiry undertaken by the Commission at the Government's specific request).
	Under the new process, the relevant Government Department will—from now on, beginning with Acts which received Royal Assent in 2005—be submitting to the appropriate departmental select committee a memorandum, 3-5 years after Royal Assent, summarising the steps which have been taken in implementation of each Act and giving a preliminary assessment of how it is working out in practice.

Early-day Motions

Adam Holloway: To ask the Leader of the House what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Early Day Motions procedure.

Helen Goodman: The Government's assessment of the procedures governing Early Day Motions were set out in its July 2007 response to the Procedure Committee's Report on "Public Petitions and Early Day Motions".
	The Government agreed with the conclusions of the Committee that—while there are some concerns about the number of EDMs—restricting the rules of eligibility for EDMs by reference to subject matter or by imposing a ration for each Member would not be appropriate.

Members' Correspondence

David Taylor: To ask the Leader of the House what recent representations she has received on the performance of Government departments in dealing with correspondence from hon. Members in a timely manner.

Helen Goodman: My right hon. Friend receives occasional representations from Members and is aware of points of order that have raised the issue. The Minister for the Cabinet Office has overall ministerial responsibility for this area and I will be pleased to pass on any comments to him. The latest Cabinet Office report on Departments' and Agencies' performance on MPs' and Peers' Correspondence (issued by written ministerial statement on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, column 71WS) announced that the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons responded to 94 per cent. of correspondence within its 15 day target.

Shoplifting: Prosecutions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General what representations she has received from small businesses on the rate of prosecutions brought by the Crown Prosecution Service for shoplifting offences.

Vera Baird: As far as I know neither the Attorney-General's Office or the Crown Prosecution Service have received representations from small businesses.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor assured the House that the Government take very seriously the need for the whole criminal justice system to be as effective as possible in tackling crime against shopkeepers and small businesses.
	I would also like to commend the hon. Members' efforts to support small businesses in her constituency.

Dangerous Driving

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Solicitor-General what steps the Crown Prosecution Service takes in prosecuting cases to seek longer sentences for people convicted of dangerous driving which results in serious injury.

Vera Baird: Prosecutors have a general duty to assist the court when sentence is being considered, which may include advising the court of any aggravating factors, the appropriate sentencing range and, where applicable, relevant sentencing guidelines or guideline cases. The prosecutor will also inform the court when relevant of the effect of the crime on any victim or on the wider community. However, prosecutors cannot recommend or seek particular sentences; that is a matter for the sentencing court.
	In respect of crown court cases and more complex cases in the magistrates courts, prosecutors prepare a 'Plea and Sentence Document'. This identifies any aggravating factors in the case, together with relevant sentencing guidelines and guideline cases, so that the court is aware of all relevant factors when sentencing.
	The guideline from the Sentencing Guidelines Council on seriousness sets out aggravating factors to be taken into account when sentencing generally. It includes among the factors indicating a more than usually serious degree of harm
	"an especially serious physical or psychological effect on the victim, even if unintended."
	Specifically on prosecuting cases of bad driving, including cases that result in serious injury or death, the Crown Prosecution Service published its Public Policy Statement on Prosecuting Cases of Bad Driving in December 2007. The Policy makes it clear that the prosecutor has a duty to ensure that the court has all the information it needs to enable it to sentence appropriately.

Anthony Leon Peart aka Anthony Leon Joseph

Simon Hughes: To ask the Solicitor-General what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations of the report into Anthony Leon Peart, aka Anthony Leon Joseph.

Vera Baird: I refer the hon. Member to my written statement on 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1WS. The cross-Agency working group is meeting this week and will continue to take forward the detailed responses to the recommendations. I shall report back to the House on progress in due course.

Agriculture: Climate Change

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent meetings his Department has held with farmers to discuss the impact of climate change on agriculture.

Phil Woolas: The Department holds regular discussions, about the impact of climate change on agriculture. DEFRA's main advisory body in this area is the Rural Climate Change Forum. Membership includes the National Farmers' Union and Country Land and Business Association, and both organisations represent farmers and land managers. Other members of the Forum are the Carbon Trust, the Environment Agency, the Forestry Commission, the National Trust, Natural England and the RSPB. The Forum's remit includes advising on policy, research and communications in relation to agriculture's role in climate change mitigation and the impacts of climate change on agriculture. The Forum meets three to four times a year; its last meeting was on 6 February 2008 and it meets again in June 2008.

Biofuels

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice his Department's chief scientist has given on the sustainability of the Government's policy on biofuels; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA's chief scientific adviser provides advice to Ministers on all aspects of biofuels policy and wider climate change strategy.
	The Government's commitment to biofuels is subject to their sustainability. The renewable transport fuel obligation includes a robust carbon and sustainability reporting mechanism to encourage fuel suppliers to source the most sustainable biofuels. We recognise that reporting is only a first step: we are working with the European Commission to ensure that forthcoming EU legislation includes robust mandatory sustainability criteria for biofuels.
	A review of the indirect impacts of biofuels was commissioned by the Department for Transport, and is being led by the Renewable Fuels Agency under Professor Gallagher. DEFRA's chief scientific advisor, along with other Government chief scientific advisors, will peer-review the findings prior to publication. The results of the review will inform policy on the social and environmental sustainability of biofuels.

Climate Change

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average recorded rise in  (a) sea temperatures and  (b) global surface temperatures has been since 2000.

Phil Woolas: Taking short segments of temperature records (for example, considering periods less than a decade) emphasises year-to-year variations in climate which can be at odds with the long-term trend.
	Globally, the trend of both sea surface temperatures (SST) and near-surface air temperatures is still upward. 2005 was the second warmest year (after 1998) in the air temperature record, which began in 1850. 11 of the 12 warmest years in the record have occurred in the last 12 years—the exception was 1996. Since 2005, some cooling has occurred because of natural climate variations, including the current Pacific La Niña (1998 was especially warm because of a strong El Niño in that year).
	 (a) Sea Surface Temperature:
	The most recent Met Office Hadley Centre HadSST2 analysis shows that global average SST has risen by 0.09° C per decade since 2000.
	HadSST2 is the main global sea surface temperature analysis, which is produced by taking in-situ measurements of SST from ships and buoys taken from 1850 to present.
	 (b) Near-surface Air Temperature:
	The most recent Met Office Hadley Centre and climatic research unit joint analysis shows that since 2000, global average near-surface air temperature has shown a continued warming trend of 0.16° C per decade, with seven of the eight warmest years in the record since 1850 occurring since (and including) 2000. This compares to a rising trend of just over 0.15° C per decade since the mid-1970s and 0.1° C per decade between 1998 and 2007.
	Further details and tables have been placed in the Library.
	 Note:
	In the latest IPCC report, the trend in global average near-surface temperature 1979 to 2005 is 0.163° C per decade.

Departmental Energy

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to reduce its energy consumption in the last 12 months; and what his Department's expenditure on energy was in  (a) the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available and  (b) the immediately preceding 12 months.

Joan Ruddock: The rebuild of the Lion House Building at Alnwick will be the first carbon neutral building on the DEFRA estate. It will deliver specific sustainability targets in relation to management, energy, internal environment, transport, water, materials, land use, ecology and pollution and has integrated initiatives such as wind turbines, photovoltaic solar electric and solar thermal panels and biomass heating. The project will set the standard for all future DEFRA network estate projects.
	DEFRA is currently installing advanced metering reading (AMR) on approximately 100 of its sites. The meters will capture over 90 per cent. of the DEFRA network estates utility use from electricity, gas, oil and water by the end of summer 2008. The Carbon Trust indicates that savings of up to 10 to 15 per cent. can be achieved through the implementation of initiatives realised through the analysis of AMR data, through reducing the base load, optimising the use of equipment and reducing peak usage.
	DEFRA is implementing the Carbon Trust's Carbon management programme (CMP). The programme has enabled the department to develop a systematic approach to carbon management and take a strategic approach to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions through operational improvements, reduced energy costs, staff awareness and monitoring initiatives. The CMP is integrated with DEFRA's energy efficiency programme and the numerous renewable energy projects being rolled out across the estate.
	DEFRA is the first Government Department to access Salix Funding—a revolving ring fenced fund, which has been allocated to the CMP. Financial savings from CMP projects will be fed back into the fund for further projects.
	DEFRA has installed 17 powerPerfector units across its estate to optimise voltage, therefore reducing electricity consumption.
	A breakdown of energy costs:
	
		
			  Energy expenditure (electricity, gas, oil) 
			  £ 
			 2006-07 8,535,523 
			 2005-06 6,305,267

Floods: Warnings

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the take-up was for registration with the Environment Agency for flood warnings in each of the last five years; and whether flood warnings extend to business properties.

Phil Woolas: The following table shows the number of properties currently registered with Flood Warnings Direct (FWD). Prior to 2006 the Environment Agency operated an Automatic Voice Messaging (AVG) system which delivered pre-recorded warnings to those who registered with the service. The AVG system provided a phone number of registered properties and therefore did not distinguish between home and business.
	The AVG system was administered independently by Environment Agency area offices and therefore no year on year data of registered membership for this service is held nationally.
	The Environment Agency transferred approximately 120,000 customers from its AVM system onto the new national system prior to FWD going live in January 2006.
	
		
			   Homes  Businesses  Total registered 
			 1995 to 2005 — — 120,000 
			 2006 103,842 6,773 230,615 
			 2007 168,117 16,305 304,422 
			 2008 208,972 23,224 352,196

Weather: Forecasts

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs where the pilots on the joint work of the Environment Agency and Meteorological Office on the prediction of extreme weather events will take place; and if he will include Gloucestershire as a pilot area.

Derek Twigg: I have been asked to reply.
	The Met Office and Environment Agency are planning to launch a pilot alert service for extreme rainfall events in July 2008 to help the emergency response community mitigate the impacts of such events. The Met Office is working closely with the Environment Agency to finalise the details of the pilot service for England and Wales, including Gloucestershire. The Met Office also intends to make the pilot service available more widely in the UK and will work closely with the responsible authorities in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Cars

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cars have been registered in Great Britain in the last 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number (in thousands) of cars newly registered in Great Britain in each of the last 10 years were as follows:
	
		
			   Number of cars newly registered (Thousand) 
			 1998 2,262 
			 1999 2,257 
			 2000 2,337 
			 2001 2,586 
			 2002 2,682 
			 2003 2,646 
			 2004 2,599 
			 2005 2,443 
			 2006 2,340 
			 2007 2,390 
			 Total (1998 to 2007) 24,542

Driving Tests

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria she uses to determine whether driving centres should be approved for closure.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 29 April 2008
	Decisions regarding the location of individual driving test centres are taken by the Driving Standards Agency.
	The agency is a trading fund. As such, it is generally obliged to ensure that its operating costs are met from fee income. It seeks, therefore, to strike a reasonable balance between providing readily accessible driver testing services and the resultant costs that must be passed on to its customers.
	In reaching decisions about car practical test centre location, DSA must take account of the following ministerially agreed guidance on distance criteria at each level of population density:
	
		
			  Population density  Distance criteria 
			 >=1,250/km(2) No more than 7 miles 
			 101-1,249/km(2) No more than 20 miles 
			 0-100/km(2) No more than 30 miles 
		
	
	In respect of motorcycle practical test centre location, DSA requires that most customers should be able to reach a motorcycle testing facility within 45 minutes, travelling no more than 20 miles.
	When considering the closure of a driving test centre, DSA follows the "Code of Practice on Written Consultations—Driving Test Centres" which is available on the DSA's website and was agreed by Ministers.

Great Western Trains: Standards

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will publish the rail improvement plan for First Great Western.

Tom Harris: A Remedial Agreement has been contractualised with First Great Western, the details of which will be made on the Department's website in due course.

M20: Noise

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1445W, on M20: noise, how many sites have been designated as high priority for resurfacing.

Tom Harris: A total of 26 stretches of concrete carriageway were identified in April 2003 in England as high priority for resurfacing with quieter materials.

M25: Cost Effectiveness

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will place in the Library a copy of the cost-benefit analysis which informed her decision on whether to include the M25 widening projects in the national feasibility study into rolling out active traffic management.

Tom Harris: I have placed the documents and subsequent analysis on this matter in the Libraries of the House and on the Department's website.

Roads: Construction

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1421W, on roads: construction, when she expects the information on carbon impacts of Highways Agency road schemes to be published on the Highways Agency website and placed in the Library.

Tom Harris: We expect to publish the information in relation to the carbon impacts of Highways Agency road schemes in the summer.

Transport: Sustainable Development

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice she has  (a) sought and  (b) received from the Chief Scientist at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on sustainability and the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government have always made clear that its biofuel policies must be based on the best available scientific evidence. We have asked the Renewable Fuels Agency to lead a review of the emerging evidence on the wider, indirect impacts of biofuel production. Professor Bob Watson, together with other Government chief scientific advisers, has been asked to peer-review its findings. The review is due to report in June.

London 2012: Manpower

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what proportion of staff working for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games are  (a) women and  (b) men.

Tessa Jowell: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is a private company and has in place a strong diversity and inclusion policy on its recruitment and retention of staff and volunteers that covers gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion and age. This is regularly monitored for its effectiveness.

Olympic Games 2012: Finance

Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what consultations the Government has undertaken with financial institutions on financing the 2012 Olympics; and what the cost of such consultations was.

Tessa Jowell: The Government Olympic Executive has received informal advice, at no cost from financial institutions, on the possibilities for financing the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
	The International Broadcast Centre/Main Press Centre and the Olympic Village are developer led projects where the developer is responsible for bank and equity funding. The ODA has and will continue to take appropriate advice on the nature of these transactions but does not have direct contractual relations with any financial institutions and subsequently they have not paid for any advice from them.

Arts Council England: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1959W, on Arts Council England: finance, what  (a) resource and  (b) capital allocations have been made for (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11.

Margaret Hodge: Resource and capital allocations for Arts Council England (ACE) are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £000 
			   Resource  Capital 
			 2008-09 428,955 1,950 
			 2009-10 443,455 1,550 
			 2010-11 466,955 1,550

Culture Leadership Programme

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the performance of the Cultural Leadership programme; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Cultural Leadership Programme (CLP) is formed from the Partnership of Arts Council, England; Museums Libraries and Archives Council and Creative and Cultural Skills. Funding has been channelled through Arts Council, England who have assessed the programme as part of the ongoing review of their work and priorities. A mix of formal and informal learning opportunities have been created and are supported by the programme, including: placements; courses; online information; advice and guidance; as well as work-based support including coaching and mentoring opportunities.
	The Programme is having a good impact on leadership development, both in terms of the new opportunities offered to emerging, mid-career and established leaders, and in increasing awareness of the benefits of targeted leadership development for these important areas of the UK life and economy.
	The Programme has been delivered by a very small team, ensuring that an investment of over 85 per cent. of the £12 million made available has been spent directly on activities that will support leaders, keeping administration and support costs to a minimum. The Programme was launched just two years ago in June 2006 and the first phase ends in June 2008. The Department expects to receive a formal evaluation of the CLP soon after the end of this first phase.

Culture Leadership Programme: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what resources  (a) his Department,  (b) the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council,  (c) the Arts Council and  (d) the Creative and Cultural Skills Council plan to make available to the Cultural Leadership programme in each of the next three years.

Margaret Hodge: In the period 2008-11 all financial support for the Cultural Leadership Programme will come from the settlement to the Arts Council. The Arts Council has agreed figures of £3,000,000 for 2008-09; £3,500,000 for 2009-10 and £3,500,000 for 2010-11.
	There will be no financial contribution from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, the Creative and Cultural Skills Council or DCMS, although they will continue to steer the development of the Programme through the Cultural Leadership Programme Delivery Partnership.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on carbon offsetting in each of the last three years; and to which companies payments for carbon offsetting have been made in each such year.

Margaret Hodge: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport spent £3,415.27 on carbon offsetting for the year 2006-07. This was the first payment of this type and was made to the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund, which is managed by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Monuments: VAT

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the VAT Relief on Memorials scheme in each of the next three years.

Margaret Hodge: The Memorials Grant Scheme make grants equivalent to the VAT incurred by charities and faith groups in establishing or repairing public memorials. The scheme is demand-led and it is not possible, therefore, to estimate accurately future costs.

Paralympic Games

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects the Playground to Podium Paralympics strategy paper to be published.

Andy Burnham: Sport England has advised that the Playground to Podium Steering Group is in the process of making final amendments to the framework following a consultation process with national governing bodies of sport and Steering Group members. The final framework will be published prior to the programme launch in September, in line with the commencement of the new school year.
	The framework provides a clear rationale for the selection of, and investment in, a focused number of sports who have the ability to support the delivery of a disability pathway for their sport from playground through to podium.
	Sport England has taken responsibility on behalf of the Playground to Podium Steering group to co-ordinate the assessment and selection of sports, and has advised that sports will be informed whether they are selected in early May. Applications for funding will then be invited from the appropriate national governing bodies.

Regional Sports Boards: Pay

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department paid to the chairmen and chairwomen of regional sports boards in England in respect of their board duties in the last 12 months.

Margaret Hodge: The following payments were made:
	
		
			  Part 1: Payments to RSB 
			  Chairs   April 2007 to March 2008 
			  RSB Chair  Region  Salary  Travel and Subsistence 
			 Cantle-Jones T. North East 8,040 1,631 
			 Rowley P. W. North East 3,576 0 
			 Price P. Yorkshire 10,720 0 
			 Jackson L. C. East Midlands 10,720 0 
			 Castle S. East 10,000 566 
			 Lewis P. London 6,253 0 
			 Brewer J London 4,505 142 
			 McAnally M. South East 10,720 1,646 
			 Roddy G. South West 11,413 3,063 
			 Mirza R. West Midlands 10,720 3,479 
			 Worthington A. North West 10,720 3,844 
			 Total  97,388 14,371

Religious Buildings: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the Listed Places of Worship scheme in each of the next three years.

Margaret Hodge: The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme makes grants equivalent to the VAT incurred in making repairs to listed buildings in use as places of worship, and to clocks, pews, bells and organs that are fixtures in such buildings. The scheme is demand-led and it is not possible, therefore, to estimate future costs with precision.

Tourism Strategy Fund

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department provided for the Tourism Strategy Fund in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 1 May 2008
	 : The Tourism Strategy Fund was a specific budget used to fund a number of tourism support initiatives arising from the policy document 'Tomorrow's Tourism' in 1999. The Department spent £30,000 in 2004-05 and no money has been spent through this fund since April 2005.

Social Security Benefits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what benefits administered by his Department are uprated in line with a measure of  (a) prices and  (b) earnings broken down by measure used;
	(2)  what benefits administered by his Department are uprated annually under statute broken down by those uprated in line with  (a) prices and  (b) earnings; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The powers to review and alter the rate of benefits are contained in the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (Sections 150 to 154). Sections 150 and 150A of that Act prescribe the benefits that must be reviewed on an annual basis and how they are to be up-rated. The annual change in the retail prices index is used to up-rate the following benefits, which, by statute, must be reviewed and up-rated annually at least in line with prices;
	State Pensions (with the exception of the age addition);
	Additional Pensions paid with State Pension and Widows' Benefits;
	Increments: for the deferment of State Pension and Guaranteed Minimum Pensions;
	Incapacity Benefit;
	Attendance Allowance;
	Severe Disablement Allowance;
	Carer's Allowance;
	Disability Living Allowance;
	Industrial Injuries Benefits (including old cases);
	Adult and Child Dependants Increases (The Child Dependants Increase is fixed in practice);
	Widows Benefit and Bereavement Benefit rates (with the exception of Bereavement Payment), which are currently linked to the basic State Pension rate.
	The standard minimum guarantee in pension credit must be reviewed and increased at least in line with earnings. The usual measure is the May to July headline figure for the whole economy, seasonally adjusted and including bonuses. However, for the April 2008 up-rating, the increase was 4.2 per cent. in line with the Budget 2007 announcement which more than keeps pace with prices and earnings.
	During the next Parliament we will re-link the uprating of the basic state pension to average earnings. Our objective, subject to affordability and the fiscal position, is to do this in 2012, but in any event by the end of the next Parliament at the latest.
	For the full list of Social Security benefits and the basis on which they are currently up-rated I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 4 February 2008,  Official Report, column 857W.

Departmental Civil Service Agencies

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the role of the relevant shareholder executive is in determining the definition of the public tasks of her Department's agencies.

Iain Wright: The Shareholder Executive is responsible for advising Ministers from this Department directly on the management of their shareholding and financial interests in Ordnance Survey, a Government Department and executive agency in its own right. The Executive also advises the Department on its interests in two other trading funds, the Fire Service College and the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre.
	In April 2007, Ministers asked Ordnance Survey and the Shareholder Executive to work together to prepare a more precise articulation of Ordnance Survey's public task as set out in the Ordnance Survey Framework Document 2004. This work was undertaken between April and June 2007, and Ministers approved the revised public task document in July 2007.

EC Grants and Loans: Castle Point

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received from Castle Point Borough Council on the use of European Union funding for the Charfleets green business initiative; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has not received any representations from Castle Point borough council on the use of European Union funding, for the Charfleets green business initiative.

Housing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her target is for the number of transactions under each of the  (a) Social Market Homebuy,  (b) New Build Homebuy and  (c) Open Market Homebuy schemes annually.

Iain Wright: We have clearly stated in the Housing Green Paper 'Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable', that we will provide 25,000 shared ownership and shared equity homes a year over the next three years. We have not set individual targets for Open Market HomeBuy or NewBuild HomeBuy to ensure flexibility within the programme. Social HomeBuy is a demand-led product and as such no targets are associated with this programme.

INTERREG Programme: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding the Government will be providing in co-payments towards the EU INTERREG  (a) IVa,  (b) IVb and  (c) IVc programmes over the next three years.

John Healey: The Government will not be providing match funding for projects in the new programmes. But we will be contributing towards their technical assistance budgets which are used for funding the programme secretariats. These secretariats deal with the day to day management of the programmes including arranging project applications, project monitoring and providing general advice. The UK contribution for April 2008 to March 2010 will be:
	
		
			  Euro 
			 Interreg IVA 1,593,000 
			 Interreg IVB (including INTERACT) 2,087,782 
			 Interreg IVC 337,053 
			 Total 4,017,835

Local Authorities: Cost Effectiveness

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what procurement advice her Department has given to best value authorities on the application of the Best Value Code of Practice in Workforce Matters;
	(2)  how many times the alternative dispute resolution procedure has been invoked for best value authority contracts;
	(3)  what steps her Department has taken to assess the effect the Best Value Code of Practice in Workforce Matters in best value authority contracts;
	(4)  what steps her Department has taken to monitor  (a) the application of and  (b) compliance with the Best Value Code of Practice in Workforce Matters in best value authority contracts.

John Healey: The code of practice on work force matters in local authority service contracts (ODPM, 2003) is guidance based on the Secretary of State's view that a 'two-tier work force' does not achieve 'best value'. Local authorities should have regard to the code when considering individual contracts.
	The alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedure was developed by the TUC, CBI, the LGA and the Employers' Association for Local Government. Use of the ADR is not monitored centrally.
	Communities and Local Government is carrying out a programme of ongoing research that will evaluate the impact of the local government procurement agenda as a whole. A specific strand has been to attempt to isolate the impact of the code of practice. Initial results were published in the 'Evaluation of the Local Government Procurement Agenda—Baseline Survey Report' (ODPM, August 2005). Just over two-thirds of authorities had included work force matters as a standard issue in contracts for services.
	Currently, local authorities are required to certify in their best value performance plans (BVPPs) that individual contracts comply with best value requirements, including the work force requirements in the two-tier code. As part of the package of de-regulatory measures, announced in the Local Government White Paper 2006, the Department signalled the intention to remove the requirement for authorities to prepare BVPPs; provisions to do so were secured in the 'Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007'. We will be consulting on proposed arrangements for monitoring compliance with the code in future.

Cocaine

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many 16 to 24-year-olds were reported to have taken any form of cocaine in each year since 1996;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of 16 to 59 year olds who have used any form of cocaine in each year since 1996.

Vernon Coaker: The British Crime Survey (BCS) routinely provides information about the numbers and proportions of people who have used drugs ever, in the last year and in the last month.
	Tables 1 and 2 provide trends, where available, of the estimated number of 16 to 24-year-olds and 16 to 59-year-olds respectively, who have used any form of cocaine in the last year.
	These estimates are based on small samples and subject to large margins of error, as indicated in the tables.
	Trends in the proportion of 16 to 24-year-olds and 16 to 59 year olds who have used any form of cocaine are also included and show an increase in use among both age groups between the 1996 and 2006-07 BCS.
	
		
			  Table 1 Estimates of numbers and prevalence of 16 to 24-year-olds who have used any form of cocaine in the last year. 1996 to 2006-07 BC S 
			   Best estimate  Lower estimate  Higher estimate  % of 16 to 24 year olds  Statistically significant change 1996  Unweighted base 
			 1996 82 49 136 1.4 — 1,420 
			 1998 180 125 257 3.2 * 1,246 
			 2000 304 235 391 5.4 * 1,468 
			 2001-02 289 247 339 5.1 * 3,995 
			 2002-03 300 257 350 5.2 * 4,227 
			 2003-04 318 278 364 5.4 * 5,531 
			 2004-05 312 275 355 5.1 * 6,196 
			 2005-06 370 327 417 5.9 * 5,892 
			 2006-07 375 332 423 6.1 * 5,706 
			  Notes:  1. The values are derived by adding or subtracting the confidence interval around the 2006-07 sample best estimates. Lower and higher estimates are based on 95 per cent. confidence intervals (calculated using a logit transformation where proportions were less than 0.2 or greater than 0.8).  2. The figures are calculated using population estimates provided by the Government Actuary's Department. 
		
	
	Table 1: Estimates of numbers and prevalence of 16 to 59-year-olds who have used any form of cocaine in the last year. 1996 to 2006/07 BCS
	
		
			  Table  2:  Estimates of numbers and prevalence of 16 to  59 -year-olds who have used any form of cocaine in the last year. 1996 to 2006-07 BC S 
			   Best estimate  Lower estimate  Higher estimate  % of 16 to 24 year olds  Statistically significant change 1996  Unweighted base 
			 1996 196 148 259 0.6 - 10,741 
			 1998 382 309 470 1.3 * 9,884 
			 2000 632 547 729 2.0 * 12,771 
			 2001-02 620 551 696 2.0 * 19,973 
			 2002-03 652 588 724 2.1 * 23,357 
			 2003-04 775 705 852 2.5 * 24,197 
			 2004-05 644 585 709 2.0 * 28,206 
			 2005-06 776 712 846 2.4 * 29,631 
			 2006-07 835 767 908 2.6 * 28,975 
			  Notes: 1. The values are derived by adding or subtracting the confidence interval around the 2006-07 sample best estimates. Lower and higher estimates are based on 95 per cent. confidence intervals (calculated using a logit transformation where proportions were less than 0.2 or greater than 0.8). 2. The figures are calculated using population estimates provided by the Government Actuary's Department.

Shares: Sales Methods

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been provided to police forces in England and Wales on dealing with fraud associated with boiler room operations.

Vernon Coaker: The Government have not issued specific guidance to police forces on dealing with boiler room fraud but aims to deliver a multi-agency response to major frauds including boiler-room frauds. Law enforcement agencies, Government Departments and regulators have already worked together on several initiatives and the City of London Police has established Operation Archway, a national intelligence reporting system for boiler room fraud.
	Action against boiler rooms will be strengthened further by the creation of the National Fraud Strategic Authority, which will co-ordinate national counter-fraud efforts. In parallel, the creation of a National Fraud Reporting Centre will boost the ability of law enforcement agencies to take intelligence-led action against complex fraud networks, such as those responsible for boiler rooms.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's paper referring to critical military gaps in the NATO mission in Afghanistan, as referred to in the Daily Telegraph of 29 April 2008.

Kim Howells: holding answer 6 May 2008
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office believes that the paper to which James Kirkup referred in the  Daily Telegraph article of 29 April was a draft internal working document. It was not shared with international partners as the article suggested. Given the nature of the document, it would not be appropriate to place it in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: United Nations

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes to the mandate of the special representative of the UN Secretary General in Afghanistan are envisaged following the adoption by the Security Council of a new resolution on the UN mission in Afghanistan; and when this resolution is expected to be adopted.

Kim Howells: The mandate of the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in Afghanistan, as head of the UN Assistance Mission, is set out in the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. The most recent was UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1806 (2008). This was adopted on 20 March and draws on the previous mandates. UNSCR 1806 can be found at:
	http://daccessdds.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N08/279/31/PDF/N0827931.pdf?OpenElement.

China: Family Planning

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions  (a) he,  (b) Ministers in his Department and  (c) officials have had with the government of China since 2006 about the Population and Birth-planning Law 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: We regularly raise our concerns with the Chinese government about the implementation of China's population and family planning law. The Chinese government acknowledges that there have been problems with administration of the policy, but insists this would be down to individuals rather than malign intent. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials discussed the One Child Policy during the recent round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing in January. We do not dispute China's right or need to implement family planning policies, but we do believe they should be based on the principles of consent and not coercion. We will continue to encourage the Chinese to meet international human rights standards at every appropriate opportunity, both bilaterally and through the EU.
	A more detailed survey of all the exchanges between UK Ministers and officials with Chinese authorities from 2006 would require a search of files held centrally and at all posts in China, which could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

China: Family Planning

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions  (a) he,  (b) Ministers in his Department and  (c) officials have had with the government of China since 2006 about the implementation in Tibet of the Population and Birth-planning Law 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: We have not discussed the implementation of China's population and family planning law with the Chinese government with specific reference to Tibet. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials did however discuss the One Child Policy during the recent round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in Beijing in January. The main theme of the dialogue was ethnic minority rights and included a field trip to Tibet. We do not dispute China's right or need to implement family planning policies but we do believe they should be based on the principles of consent and not coercion. We will continue to encourage the Chinese to meet international human rights standards at every appropriate opportunity, both bilaterally and through the EU.
	A more detailed survey of all the exchanges between UK Ministers and officials with Chinese authorities from 2006 would require a search of files held centrally and at all posts in China, which could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

Cuba: USA

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Ministers in his Department have met Caleb McCurry since his appointment as Cuba Transition Co-ordinator for the Bush Administration.

Kim Howells: holding answer 7 May 2008
	 Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have not met Caleb McCarry since his appointment as Cuba Transition Co-ordinator in 2005.

Departmental Catering

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken on food hygiene standards in the canteen at Admiralty Buildings, Whitehall, following the latest inspection by Westminster City Council; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest Westminster City Council food hygiene inspection report relating to the canteen (case 05/47821/FOOD); and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Westminster city council last inspected the Old Admiralty Building's 'The Mall Café' on 31 May 2006. Five issues were highlighted in the inspection and the necessary follow up action has been taken. A copy of the inspection report has been placed in the Library of the House.

Morocco: Political Prisoners

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the hunger strike by 60 Saharawi political prisoners in Moroccan jails; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government are aware of a number of Sahrawi prisoners in Moroccan jails currently on hunger strike. I understand they are calling for improvements in prison conditions and to be treated as political prisoners.
	The UK has worked hard to help Morocco improve prison conditions in recent years. In 2005-07, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office funded a prison management project aimed at raising awareness of prisoners' rights and improving working practices.
	As part of this, our embassy in Rabat organised regional prison conferences in May 2006 and April 2007, aimed at tackling radicalisation, preventing recruitment, promoting rehabilitation and promoting the rule of law and human rights in Islamic countries' prisons.
	We continue to engage with the Moroccan Government at various levels to ensure the rule of law is upheld and the rights of prisoners are respected.

Zimbabwe: China

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Chinese authorities on arms sales to Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We have lobbied the Chinese government in Beijing not to supply arms to Zimbabwe on four occasions since a Chinese ship attempted to unload in Durban. The EU already has in place a ban on the sales of arms to Zimbabwe. We support a moratorium on arms sales until there is a return to democracy and good governance. We raised this with the support of other states in the UN Security Council.

Departmental Written Questions

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of questions tabled to his Department for written answer on a named day have been answered on the day named in the current Session.

David Lammy: Since the beginning of the 2007-08 Session and up to 30 April 2008, the Department has received a total of 1,272 PQs: 153 named day and 1,119 ordinary written PQs. The manual check of all named day PQs carried out to monitor the timeliness of replies for the months of November 2007 to April 2008 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Total named day PQs received (Number)  Total named day PQs answered on time (Percentage) 
			 November 2007 46 37 
			 December 2007 23 35 
			 January 2008 16 6 
			 February 2008 17 35 
			 March 2008 27 11 
			 April 2008 15 80

Mature Students: Finance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps the Government has taken to increase support available to mature students since 1997.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 7 May 2008
	Before 2006, loans were limited to students aged under 55, or under 50 for students not intending to enter employment upon graduating. During the passage of the Higher Education Act, concerns were raised about the upper age limits : the Government set up a working group which recommended that there should be no age limit applied to the fee loan when this was introduced in 2006, and a review of the existing age limits on maintenance loans with the intention of increasing this to match the state pension age for the 2006-07 academic year. Consequently, mature students are generally eligible for the same student support as other students, though maintenance loans are available only to those aged under 60. In 2006-07 the age limit for applying for a student loan was raised to 60 years of age and the additional requirement for the student to enter into an agreement to work after their studies was removed.
	Students over 25 years of age ('mature students') are treated as independent, and are assessed on their own income (and the income of their spouse or partner where applicable) and not on the income of their parents. For full-time students, fee loans of up to £3,070 (£3,145 in 2008-09) ensure that no one has to pay their fees upfront students under the age of 60 are eligible for maintenance loans of up to £6,315 (£6,475 in 2008-09)(1). Means-tested grants of up to £2,765 (£2,835 in 2008-09) are available to new students. From 2008-09, we are increasing the income thresholds for the means tested maintenance grant so many more full-time students, including mature students, will receive grant support. This will mean that one third of all eligible students in England entering higher education in the academic year 2008-09 are expected to be entitled to a full non-repayable grant worth £2,835 and another one third are expected to be entitled to a partial grant.
	(1) This is the maximum amount available to students studying in London. Students studying elsewhere can receive up to £4,510 (£4,625 in 2008-09)
	They can also access targeted support including the adult dependants grant, parents learning allowance, childcare grant and disabled students allowance. students may also qualify for a bursary from their higher education institution. Students may also apply for support from the access to learning fund, a university-administered fund for students experiencing financial hardship.
	Student parents are eligible to receive child tax credit from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. Mature students who do not qualify for undergraduate student support may be eligible for a career development loan which has an element of subsidy from public funds.

Students: Per Capita Costs

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the average expenditure from the public purse was per student on  (a) higher education and  (b) training and skills in each parliamentary constituency in the North West in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: Expenditure incurred by the Learning and Skills Council, HEFCE and the Student Loans Company is not collected by my Department at the level of detail requested. We will however, work with HEFCE and the Student Loans Company to try to gain a detailed break down of the higher education expenditure and will write to the hon. Member with further relevant detail.
	
		
			  Funding per FTE and schools learners at age bands 16-18  and 19+ by local authority— period 2003/04 to 2007/08 
			   2007/08 
			   16-18  19+ 
			   Further Education  Schools  Further Education 
			   FTE numbers ( 1)  Funding per FTE ( 2)  SSF learner numbers ( 3)  Funding per SSF learner ( 4)  FTE numbers ( 1)  Funding per FTE ( 2) 
			 Cheshire 9,041 4,627 6,174 4,529 4,885 3,139 
			 Warrington 2,790 4,190 1,323 4,764 1,888 2,078 
			 Cumbria 4,598 4,265 4,881 4,719 2,841 3,426 
			 Bolton 2,570 4,276 1607 4,477 1,751 2,868 
			 Bury 5,332 4,408 0 0 1,092 3,494 
			 Manchester 9,768 4,505 999 4,580 8,382 3,393 
			 Oldham 4,470 4,374 874 4,558 1,642 3,224 
			 Rochdale 2,913 4,147 546 4,878 1,333 3,119 
			 Salford 5,116 4,201 80 4,594 2,461 3,106 
			 Stockport 7,534 4,294 0 0 3,024 2,623 
			 Tameside 4,162 4,279 315 4,412 2,007 2,896 
			 Trafford 2,739 4,205 1,884 4,727 2,366 3,192 
			 Wigan 6,187 4,195 501 4,742 1,871 3,590 
			 Halton 2,383 4,431 288 4,750 707 4,523 
			 Knowsley 2,528 4,334 359 4,830 1,837 3,553 
			 Liverpool 3,567 4,042 5240 4,843 4,776 3,440 
			 Sefton 5,769 4,416 2163 4,795 2,473 2,994 
			 St. Helens 3,956 4,309 941 4,739 2,693 2,968 
			 Wirral 4,082 4,082 3766 4,623 2,622 2,757 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 4,210 4,315 305 4,631 1,881 3,327 
			 Blackpool 6,408 4,499 129 4,796 2,035 3,596 
			 Lancashire 15,219 4,368 4,291 4,708 7,113 3,412 
		
	
	
		
			   2006/07 
			   16-18  19+ 
			   Further Education  Schools  Further Education 
			   FTE numbers ( 1)  Funding per FTE ( 2)  SSF learner numbers ( 3)  Funding per SSF learner ( 4)  FTE numbers ( 1)  Funding per FTE ( 2) 
			 Cheshire 8,246 4,520 6,192 4,338 5,500 2,812 
			 Warrington 2,475 4,177 1,345 4,520 1,633 2,965 
			 Cumbria 4,658 4,018 4,800 4,601 3,118 3,207 
			 Bolton 2,392 4,048 1743 4,355 1,786 2,961 
			 Bury 5,129 4,209 0 0 1,162 3,202 
			 Manchester 9,006 4,352 937 4,445 9,374 3,186 
			 Oldham 4,185 4,184 869 4,363 1,619 3,216 
			 Rochdale 2,749 3,914 639 4,708 1,414 2,996 
			 Salford 4,629 4,023 40 4,381 2,421 2,989 
			 Stockport 6,865 4,157 0 0 2,695 2,632 
			 Tameside 4,082 4,128 335 4,293 2,206 2,702 
			 Trafford 2,671 4,107 1,829 4,485 2,535 3,081 
			 Wigan 5,998 4,046 516 4,720 1,879 3,265 
			 Halton 2,524 4,233 272 4,304 1,007 3,432 
			 Knowsley 2,354 4,194 355 4,376 2,491 2,828 
			 Liverpool 3,334 3,852 4986 4,747 6,012 2,976 
			 Sefton 5,341 4,196 2106 4,646 2,725 2,831 
			 St. Helens 3,886 4,119 923 4,595 3,144 2,729 
			 Wirral 2,913 3,936 3614 4,440 2,725 2,583 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 4,238 4,147 334 4,137 2,065 3,383 
			 Blackpool 5,774 4,358 126 4,707 2,300 3,207 
			 Lancashire 14,693 4,191 4,529 4,572 9,667 3,138 
		
	
	
		
			   2005/06 
			   16-18  19+ 
			   Further Education  Schools  Further Education 
			   FTE numbers ( 1)  Funding per FTE ( 2)  SSF learner numbers ( 3)  Funding per SSF learner ( 4)  FTE numbers ( 1)  Funding per FTE ( 2) 
			 Cheshire 7,920 4,357 6,194 4,186 6,267 2,747 
			 Warrington 2,355 3,989 1,345 4,209 1,770 2,978 
			 Cumbria 4,508 3,691 4,800 4,465 4,252 2,762 
			 Bolton 2,351 3,813 1743 4,278 2,370 2,486 
			 Bury 4,826 4,012 0 0 1,692 2,471 
			 Manchester 8,382 4,219 946 4,238 11,212 2,962 
			 Oldham 3,935 4,066 875 4,120 1,898 2,946 
			 Rochdale 2,752 3,754 740 3,998 1,682 2,730 
			 Salford 4,356 3,916 0 0 2,633 2,864 
			 Stockport 6,663 4,010 0 0 3,088 2,586 
			 Tameside 3,903 4,006 335 4,174 2,632 2,511 
			 Trafford 2,554 3,831 1,830 4,294 2,940 2,934 
			 Wigan 5,646 3,918 516 4,601 2,320 2,955 
			 Halton 2,471 4,108 272 4,275 1,195 3,282 
			 Knowsley 2,254 4,043 355 4,200 2,483 3,033 
			 Liverpool 3,211 3,729 5063 4,624 7,012 2,813 
			 Sefton 5,045 4,021 2106 4,575 3,061 2,731 
			 St. Helens 3,670 3,995 931 4,518 3,586 2,614 
			 Wirral 2,703 3,912 3627 4,223 3,150 2,542 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 4,198 3,995 334 4,097 2,782 2,667 
			 Blackpool 5,097 4,296 128 4,619 2,783 3,001 
			 Lancashire 14,105 3,966 4,529 4,460 11,469 2,934 
		
	
	
		
			   2004/05 
			   16-18  19+ 
			   Further Education  Schools  Further Education 
			   FTE numbers ( 1)  Funding per FTE ( 2)  SSF learner numbers ( 3)  Funding per SSF learner ( 4)  FTE numbers ( 1)  Funding per FTE ( 2) 
			 Cheshire 7,510 4,097 6,318 3,999 7,051 2,628 
			 Warrington 2,208 3,787 1,304 3,992 1,920 2,887 
			 Cumbria 4,250 9,539 4,641 4,359 4,782 2,613 
			 Bolton 2,190 3,621 1678 3,990 2,770 2,325 
			 Bury 4,713 3,843 0 0 2,011 2,153 
			 Manchester 7,829 4,105 987 4,048 12,237 2,812 
			 Oldham 3,843 3,917 835 3,856 2,083 2,797 
			 Rochdale 2,641 3,384 691 4,465 2,031 2,428 
			 Salford 3,966 3,643 0 0 2,845 2,798 
			 Stockport 6,873 3,788 0 0 3,609 2,304 
			 Tameside 3,867 3,855 344 3,988 3,112 2,192 
			 Trafford 2,554 3,701 1,766 4,198 3,363 2,660 
			 Wigan 5,719 3,650 520 4,036 2,513 2,863 
			 Halton 2,494 3,852 264 4,107 1,387 2,913 
			 Knowsley 1,989 3,980 379 4,317 2,454 3,041 
			 Liverpool 3,225 3,551 4992 4,364 7,253 2,695 
			 Sefton 4,952 3,800 2094 4,525 3,400 2,599 
			 St. Helens 3,463 3,864 1013 4,198 3,744 2,538 
			 Wirral 2,579 3,854 3563 4,020 3,339 2,506 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 4,218 3,777 343 4,158 3,252 2,397 
			 Blackpool 4,744 4,001 154 4,233 3,375 2,604 
			 Lancashire 13,601 3,809 4,590 4,241 11,640 3,030 
		
	
	
		
			   2003/04 
			   16-18  19+ 
			   Further Education  Schools  Further Education 
			   FTE numbers ( 1)  Funding per FTE ( 2)  SSF learner numbers ( 3)  Funding per SSF learner ( 4)  FTE numbers ( 1)  Funding per FTE ( 2) 
			 Cheshire 7,393 3,775 6r224 3,794 6,977 2,537 
			 Warrington 2,081 3,653 1,368 3,738 2,022 2,597 
			 Cumbria 4,095 3,428 4,525 4,024 4,808 2,617 
			 Bolton 2,133 3,516 1652 3,666 2,854 2,144 
			 Bury 4,709 3,343 0 0 2,138 2,269 
			 Manchester 7,771 3,564 966 3,968 13,122 2,530 
			 Oldham 3,817 3,515 835 3,670 2,367 2,501 
			 Rochdale 2,417 3,140 666 4,389 2,224 2,178 
			 Salford 3,663 3,476 0 0 3,076 2,473 
			 Stockport 6,954 3,457 0 0 3,675 2,276 
			 Tameside 3,864 3,581 299 3,879 3,156 2,080 
			 Trafford 2,747 3,394 1,697 3,939 3,423 2,544 
			 Wigan 5,767 3,411 538 3,823 2,656 2,593 
			 Halton 2,470 3,042 246 3,986 1,874 2,455 
			 Knowsley 1,933 3,657 351 3,991 2,327 2,899 
			 Liverpool 3,190 3,102 4748 4,137 7,387 2,533 
			 Sefton 4,708 3,532 2180 4,091 4,026 2,337 
			 St. Helens 3,455 3,624 1017 4,029 4,072 2,299 
			 Wirral 2,633 3,473 3506 3,785 3,670 2,212 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 4,261 3,520 275 3,797 3,234 2,301 
			 Blackpool 4,290 3,553 156 3,662 3,614 2,480 
			 Lancashire 13,334 3,521 4,279 3,934 12,746 2,657 
			 (1) A full-time equivalent learner is defined as the total guided learning hours divided by 450 (maximum of one FTE per learner). (2) The funding allocated per FTE to the colleges and FE providers located in the local authority (excluding additional learning support). (3) School sixth form learner numbers (these are predominantly full-time learners). (4) Funding allocated per learner (including pensions funding, but excluding the block LA SEN allocation).  Note: In FE, additional learning support was not allocated by age band and therefore it is not possible to split between 16-18 and 19+ (this is changing in 2008/09). All above figures are based on the allocations made to the schools, colleges and other providers located in that LA area. The learners recruited may not be resident in the same LA area.

Vocational Training: Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what vocational training and courses are available to provide the skills needed for the energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors; and whether there are plans further to establish such courses.

David Lammy: The Government are committed to developing a sustainable, innovative and productive economy that delivers a high level of employment, and a just society that promotes social inclusion, sustainable communities and personal well-being.
	The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for the commissioning and funding of post-16 education and training up to (but notincluding) higher education. Information on the number and type of courses is an operational matter for the LSC and I have asked Mark Haysom, the LSC chief executive, to write to the hon. Gentleman with further information. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	 Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 8 May 2008:
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question that asked:
	What vocational training and course are available to provide the skills needed for the energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors; and whether there are plans further to establish such courses.
	The LSC holds data on vocational learning in England that is funded through the public purse. Through Colleges of Further Education and other training providers we support business and individuals to acquire the skills that they need to achieve personal and organisation aims.
	However, the actual content of qualifications is largely decided by the Sector Skills Councils, who represent employers in different sectors, and Awarding Bodies who develop qualifications to meet market need. There are a range of Sector Skills Councils with responsibility for occupations that require skills in energy efficiency and renewable energy, and as such no one Sector Skills Council is accountable specifically for this area of skill. The SSCs with most interest in renewables and energy efficiency include Construction Skills, Energy and Utility Skills, Built Environment (Summit Skills), property and facilities (Asset Skills), energy production and polymers (Cogent) and a range of manufacturing SSCs. Combined, these sectors account for a significant proportion of funded provision in England.
	The SSCs are already supporting changes to provision, and courses are already being updated in line with the newest developments for example the addition of condensing boilers into standard heating and plumbing provision. Within the Energy and Utility Skills Sector Skills Council footprint there are 342 learning aims available to the sector, which represent 287 different qualifications. Within 2006/2007 there were a total of 11,781 individuals who enrolled on these qualifications which shows an increase of 17% on the previous year. In addition to these qualifications there are four apprenticeship frameworks specifically developed for the sector. The SSC will work with Awarding Bodies to ensure that the latest skills are taught within these programmes.
	The courses available in the future will be largely developed in response to the requirements set out by Sector Skills Councils. Each SSC is currently producing a Sector Qualification Strategy (SQS) covering all skills and qualifications required by their sector, and this must be fully implemented by 2010 at the latest, supported by appropriate National Occupational Standards and robust Labour Market Intelligence. The SQS will set out the need for accredited qualifications and other learning provision in each sector, as part of the SQS, each SSC will produce an action plan with more detail about qualifications which they view as no longer fit for purpose or supported by employers (and which therefore should be removed) and those qualifications which need to be reformed or where new qualifications need to be developed. This process will provide the mechanism for updating skills in line with new technology.
	In England, from August 2009 the LSC will align public funding with those qualifications highlighted in SQS and Action Plans which LSC identify as a priority for public funding (mediated by LSC and government targets and priorities). Where the LSC deems a qualification as not fit for purpose, the qualification will be made ineligible for continued public funding. This will ensure that up to date qualifications receive funding and out of date skills are no longer supported.

Excise Duties: Fuels

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the revenue to the Exchequer which will accrue from taxation of petrol and diesel in 2008-09 if fuel prices remain at their current level; and what forecast he made for such revenues for 2008-09 in Budget 2008;
	(2)  what assumption was made in Budget 2008 about the price of a litre of petrol;
	(3)  what the tax take is on a litre of petrol costing 110 pence at the pump.

Angela Eagle: The current fuel duty payable on a litre of petrol is 50.35p and is the total amount of tax paid by businesses that can reclaim VAT. For households and businesses that cannot reclaim VAT, it is charged as 17.5 per cent. on the sum of the pre-tax price of petrol and fuel duty.
	In estimating the impact on receipts of spending on fuel it is necessary to take into account a broad and complex range of reclaims and displacement factor, over a reasonable period of time.
	The forecast revenue for 2008-09 from fuel duty is published in table C.6 of the 2008 Financial Statement and Budget Report. This can be found at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget/budget_08/report/bud_bud08_repindex.cfm
	Road fuel duties are charged at a fixed amount per litre and higher road fuel prices generally reduce revenues from fuel duties as they result in lower fuel consumption. The impact of higher oil prices on overall tax revenues and the public finances is complex, and will depend on their wider impact on the economy in general, including the effect on factors such as profitability and retail prices. Reliable estimates of the impact of changes in prices are not available.
	The petrol price incorporated into the Budget 2008 forecast for fuel duties was consistent with the NAO audited assumption on oil prices. This assumed that oil prices would average $83.8 a barrel in 2008, the average of independent forecasts.

Government Departments: Sustainable Development

David Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Government departments have  (a) approached SALIX for assistance and  (b) received assistance (from whatever source) in response to the procedure outlined on pages 4 and 5 in the UK Government Sustainable Procurement Action Plan.

Angela Eagle: As part of the OGC Collaborative Procurement work, the energy team has been working closely with SALIX and Defra to promote Salix's funding opportunities. To date SALIX have met with the following Departments:
	Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
	Ministry of Defence
	Cabinet Office
	HM Revenue and Customs
	Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
	Department for Communities and Local Government
	Ministry of Justice
	Department for Work and Pensions
	Salix currently have an £800,000 fund committed to Defra.
	The Carbon Trust also offers a range of support to Government Departments. In the 2007-08 financial year, following the publication of the Sustainable Procurement Action Plan, the Carbon Trust assisted the following Departments:
	Cabinet Office
	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	Department for International Development
	Department for Transport
	Department of Health
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	HM Revenue and Customs
	HM Treasury
	HM Prisons Service
	Ministry of Defence
	Office of National Statistics
	Export Credits Guarantee Department

Minimum Wage: Prosecutions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 143-44W, on minimum wage: prosecutions, what arrangements are in place to check that employers who previously accrued minimum wage arrears are now compliant; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC periodically conduct reviews of a sample of closed cases where they previously identified arrears. This review involves compliance officers revisiting employers to ensure that they are continuing to pay the minimum wage and have implemented any advice that HMRC provided in respect of record keeping.

Minimum Wage: Prosecutions

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 143-44W, on minimum wage: prosecutions, how many employers have been recorded as having  (a) obstructed minimum wage compliance officers and  (b) failed to produce required records in each year since the minimum wage was introduced, broken down by region.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC do not keep statistics on the number of employers who have obstructed their compliance officers or failed to produce records. In 2007 there were two successful prosecutions of employers, one for obstructing a compliance officer and one for failing to produce records, in the London and South West regions. In 2008 there has been a successful prosecution of an employer in the East Midlands for failing to produce records.

Armed Forces: Housing

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of service accommodation units owned by Annington Homes has been sold since 1997.

Derek Twigg: Once surplus properties are handed back to Annington Homes Ltd. (AHL) there is no requirement for the Department to maintain records of their subsequent use or sale.

Ballistic Missile Defence

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the Memorandum of Agreement concerning the Ballistic Missile Early Warning Station at Fylingdales Moor of 1960.

Des Browne: I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the document entitled Exchange of Notes between the United States of America and the UK relating to a Ballistic Missile Early Warning Station at Fylingdales Moor dated 15 February 1960. This document is available on the United Nations website at http://untreaty.un.org/unts/l_60000/10/40/00019975.pdf. I shall also place a copy of the document in the Library of the House.

Departmental Property

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what property his Department owns  (a) in London,  (b) elsewhere in the UK and  (c) overseas; and what the latest available valuation of the property was in each case.

Derek Twigg: Details of all MOD holdings over £1 million and their latest asset valuation are available in Chapter 7 of the National Asset Register (CM7022), which can be found on HM Treasury's website.
	Records of all MOD property below £1 million in value could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Young Offenders: Self-mutilation

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many instances of prisoner self-harm were recorded in  (a) secure training centres,  (b) secure children's homes and  (c) young offender institutions in each year since 2000, broken down by establishment; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The following table sets out the number of recorded self-harm incidents that occurred in under-18 custodial establishments between 1 April 2007 and 29 February 2008. The data have been provided by the Youth Justice Board.
	The Youth Justice Board has been collecting data across the secure estate for children and young people against common definitions of self-harm from April 2007. Comparative data are not available for earlier periods.
	
		
			   2007  2008 
			   April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December  January  February 
			  Secure children's homes   
			 Aldine House 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Atkinson Unit 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Aycliffe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Barton Moss 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Clayfields 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 East Moor 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Gladstone Unit 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hillside 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Kyloe House 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 3 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 
			 Orchard Lodge 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Redbank 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Sutton Place 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Swanwick Lodge 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Vinney Green 1 0 0 1 1 2 7 2 0 0 1 
			 
			  Secure training centres   
			 Hassockfield 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 2 
			 Medway 13 6 7 7 8 4 1 6 2 1 0 
			 Oakhill 13 26 16 10 35 15 24 7 8 0 0 
			 Rainsbrook 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 
			 
			  Young offender institutions   
			 Ashfield 2 3 6 9 3 4 1 5 6 0 0 
			 Brinsford 9 9 1 3 3 1 2 2 3 1 1 
			 Castington 1 1 0 3 2 0 2 0 3 1 2 
			 Cookham Wood 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Downview 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 
			 Eastwood Park 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Feltham 16 16 16 7 4 8 1 11 0 3 10 
			 Foston Hall 0 0 14 5 13 18 8 0 4 6 5 
			 Hindley 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 
			 Huntercombe 0 8 0 3 3 0 11 6 0 0 0 
			 Lancaster Farms 0 10 6 18 5 1 3 1 1 0 1 
			 New Hall 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 
			 Parc 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 
			 Stoke Heath 0 1 1 5 2 0 2 1 4 3 1 
			 Thorn Cross 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Warren Hill 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 3 0 0 
			 Werrington 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Wetherby 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
			  Note:  Data provided by the YJB. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing and can be subject to change over time 
		
	
	.

Keep Warm Keep Well

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost has been of the  (a) publication and  (b) distribution of his Department's Keep Warm, Keep Well information booklet; when the booklets were first made available for distribution in 2007; what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the distribution of the booklets; which agencies were involved in the distribution to doctors' surgeries of the booklets; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Department recognises the importance of fuel poverty and its impact upon excess winter mortality, health and well-being. The Department works in partnership with other Government Departments and works in close collaboration with Warm Front to increase health sector referral rates for winter warmth interventions. The Keep Well Keep Warm campaign is a key aspect of the Department's commitment to address fuel poverty and promote winter warmth.
	The Keep Warm, Keep Well booklet, was made available from September 2007, to allow people to prepare for the colder weather. It was produced in a number of different formats including non-English language versions, braille, audio, large print and an accessible version for people with learning disabilities. The booklet was available in a variety of outlets, including general practitioners (GP) surgeries. All GP surgeries in England were sent a letter inviting them to order copies of the booklet from the DH Publications Orderline, which is managed by Professional Logistics Ltd. In addition, the booklet was distributed to 5,103 GP surgeries via the Waiting Room Information Service.
	The total cost of publishing the booklet was £199,443 and the total cost of distribution was £197,498. As well as making the booklet available via national health service outlets, voluntary and commercial partners distributed the booklet for free.
	Research to measure awareness of how to keep warm and well in winter and the help available was carried out in January. This included some evaluation of the booklet in terms of whether the target audience had seen a copy, but did not assess the efficacy of the distribution methods used.

Medical Records: Databases

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the reasons are for deciding that  (a) individuals may not opt out of having their demographic data placed on the Spine and  (b) not having demographic data on the Spine will prevent individuals accessing NHS treatment; and whether he informed the Health Committee during their recent review of the NHS patient record that individuals would not be able to opt out of having their demographic details on the Spine.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him given on 22 April 2008,  Official Report , column 1990W. The relevant information in that answer reflects information provided in paragraphs 23 and 24 of the Department's written evidence to the Health Select Committee, published by the Committee on 25 April 2007.

Vaccination: Thiomersal

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what year the NHS ceased to use thiomersal in vaccine doses under the public vaccination programme; and in what year the last vaccine stocks containing thiomersal were  (a) exhausted and  (b) withdrawn.

Dawn Primarolo: The routine childhood vaccination programme has used only thiomersal-free vaccines from September/October 2004. The remaining centrally held stocks containing thiomersal were destroyed when they date expired. No vaccine was withdrawn.
	Details of the changes, including the rational, are contained in the Chief Medical Officer's letter, copies of which have been placed in the Library and are also available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersand circulars/Professionalletters/Chiefmedicalofficerletters/DH_4087345.